Costa Vida Surfs Up New Hand-Crafted, Baja-Inspire

UTAH COUNTY, Utah, Oct. 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costa Vida is staying true to the coastal life with the addition of the Mahi Fish Taco to its Baja, Calif.-inspired menu nationwide. The new taco features tender marinated Mahi Mahi covered in a signature zesty Cholula cream sauce and rounded out with finely shredded purple and green cabbage and a fresh sprig of cilantro, all placed in a warm hand-made tortilla.

"We really made this a discovery process, first trying to find the perfect fish that embodied the Baja inspiration and could be found swimming in the Pacific and Sea of Cortez bordering the Baja Peninsula," said Geoff Alter, Costa Vida Executive Chef. "We decided on Mahi Mahi based on it being a firm fleshed white fish which enabled us to be more creative in our cooking process."

Priding itself on having a well-crafted, highly desirable menu, Costa Vida has historically been selective when making additions. After seeing the success of the Sweet Baja Shrimp Taco since its addition in the summer of 2012, Costa Vida sought to round out its taco offerings with a fish choice.

"The Mahi Fish Taco addition is a continued testament to not only serving our customers the highest quality, freshest ingredients, but also our continual desire to provide an escape to the Baja Coast which is encapsulated in Costa Vida's sights, sounds, smells and tastes," said Dave Rutter, President of Costa Vida. "This is an area of our menu that our guests are asking for and we are delighted to respond."

"We had such a hugely positive customer response to the addition of the Sweet Baja Shrimp to our menu last year, so we look forward to similarly positive results throughout the brand," continued Brian Dixon, Director of Brand Marketing. "That outcome is certainly suggested by test results in a number of our locations."  

Costa Vida's menu, inspired by the surfing culture and local cuisine of the Baja Peninsula Coast, features made-to-order burritos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, salads and nachos. Protein choices include sweet pork, grilled chicken, shredded beef, Raspberry Chipotle Chicken, grilled steak, and chile verde. Entrées are served with cilantro lime rice and black, pinto beans or 'refried' beans. House-made guacamole, sauces, and salsas can be used to customize any order and include Mango Salsa, Honey Habanero Salsa, Salsa Fresca, and Pico de Gallo.

With the exception of the flour and wheat tortillas and two desserts, Costa Vida's menu items are gluten free.

For more information on the Costa Vida franchise opportunity, please visit http://costavida.net/franchise

About Costa Vida

Costa Vida is a fast casual restaurant inspired by the fresh tasting foods and vibrant lifestyle of the Baja Peninsula. Costa Vida's food is created every day from scratch using quality ingredients. The menu offers a variety of made-to-order items such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, salads and desserts. As a growing and successful brand, Costa Vida offers exciting and vibrant franchise business opportunities. For more information, visit www.costavida.net .

Melanie Kreiter Fishman PR, (847) 945-1300,